Rivers in Colorado
Arkansas River at La Junta
Below flood stage
7.29ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 4:15 AM MDT
- Flood stage
- 11.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 7.40 ftTue, Sep 22, 6:00 AM MDT
- Record crest
- 15.55 ft1999
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 15.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 13.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 11.00 ft |
| Action | 10.00 ft |
- 15.00 ftMajor Flood. Flooding in La Junta and nearby areas. Homes and businesses are flooded. Flooding is especially severe in North La Junta. Water possibly overtops levees at Las Animas.
- 13.00 ftModerate Flood. Local residential flooding is possible in La Junta.
- 12.00 ftMinor Flood. Flood waters threaten Highway 194 east of La Junta.
- 11.00 ftMinor Flood. Minor agricultural flooding.
- 10.00 ftAction Stage. The river is bankfull.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 12% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 21, 2026.
Crest history
23 crests on NOAA’s list since 1942.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 2, 1999 | 15.55 ft |
| 2 | May 20, 1955 | 14.20 ft |
| 3 | June 12, 2015 | 13.38 ft |
| 4 | June 19, 1965 | 12.90 ft |
| 5 | June 24, 2023 | 12.73 ft |
| 6 | May 12, 2017 | 12.66 ft |
| 7 | September 17, 2013 | 12.21 ft |
| 8 | June 4, 1995 | 12.12 ft |
| 9 | July 10, 1978 | 11.87 ft |
| 10 | June 12, 1997 | 11.80 ft |
| 11 | June 27, 2007 | 11.42 ft |
| 12 | June 12, 2024 | 11.36 ft |
| 13 | August 22, 1984 | 11.09 ft |
| 14 | July 20, 1990 | 11.00 ft |
| 15 | June 4, 1994 | 10.90 ft |
| 16 | August 28, 2006 | 10.73 ft |
| 17 | July 19, 2004 | 10.48 ft |
| 18 | August 22, 1982 | 10.17 ft |
| 19 | June 10, 2010 | 10.05 ft |
| 20 | May 26, 1967 | 10.00 ft |
| 21 | July 23, 1951 | 10.00 ft |
| 22 | April 25, 1942 | 9.96 ft |
| 23 | July 30, 1998 | 9.88 ft |
Most recent crests
- June 12, 2024: 11.36 ft
- June 24, 2023: 12.73 ft
- May 12, 2017: 12.66 ft
- June 12, 2015: 13.38 ft
- September 17, 2013: 12.21 ft
- June 10, 2010: 10.05 ft
- June 27, 2007: 11.42 ft
- August 28, 2006: 10.73 ft
- July 19, 2004: 10.48 ft
- May 2, 1999: 15.55 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Arkansas-Red Basin RFC. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.